CHRIS TSIPRAILIDIS IS THE WINNER!
Corrals 1st Place Prize of $116,753!
The first event of the 2006 World Poker Finals started with a bang as 770 players put up $600 each to enter
the No-Limit Hold’em Modified Shoot-out. Sessions were held at 10 am and 1 pm and the top three players on each
single table advanced to the 4 pm Finals. Gunning for a total prize pool of $397,797, the multi-table tournament
was played down to twenty players by the 2 am curfew. After three hours of play on Sunday, the final ten
contestants squared off to determine the title. Syracuse Chris Tsiprailidis was able to take the chip lead he had
throughout the finals and convert it into a resounding victory. Chris will return to his home in Liverpool, NY, with
the Championship Trophy and First Place money of $116,753!
Chris may have walked off with 1st place but kudos should be given to Brad Kneidl of Waterford, CT,
who took the short stack on the final table to a 2nd place finish worth $61,659. The final hand for Brad was an
anticlimax as he finally succumbed to the overwhelming chip advantage of Chris. However, Brad’s fortune at the
table epitomized the axiom, “a chip and a chair” as he continually fought back from the brink. Third place finisher,
Michael Pizzarella, Worcester, MA, was also a victim of Chris. He went all-in with a K7 but Chris had AK and,
with no help from the board, Mike would take home $31,823. Fourth place finisher Tom Dobrilovic, West Nyack,
NY, went all-in with KhQh and Chris called with pocket 6’s. Chris flopped a set (6h5sQh) but Tom still had outs
with the Q and a flush draw. A 9h on the turn gave him hope but the river did not save him and Tom was the winner
of $21,823.
Andy Pacheco of Taunton, MA, was left in 5th position when Mike Pizzarella with K10 caught a second
pair on the river to top Andy’s As. Andy collected $17,901 for his efforts. Sixth place money of $13,923 was taken
home by John Frazier of New Haven, CT. He had A9 but could not catch an A and he lost to Tom’s pocket J’s.
Mike Trekell went all-in with pocket 7’s but Chris called with pocket 10’s and then flopped the set. Mike had a
chance for a straight but could not connect and he returned to his home in Meriden, CT, with $11,934 for 7th place.
Bill Waisnor, Burlington, MA, was all-in with Kh10h against Chris’s AK. He caught his flush on the turn but three
9’s and an A on the board gave Chris the full house and Bill was in 8th spot collecting $9,945. Our ninth place
finisher was Nick Curanovic who hails from Yonkers, NY. Nick was all-in with KJ but could not catch up to Bill’s
pocket A’s. Nick would pocket $7,956. Mike Sansone would lay claim to tenth place money of $6,166. Mike, who
is from Guilford, Ct, was all-in with AQ but Mike Pizzarella had pocket K’s which held up.
With another Shoot-Out scheduled for Tuesday we can expect more fireworks to be in the air! The 2006
World Poker Finals is off to a fantastic start!!
Reported by Jeffrey
A. Toth for Foxwoods Resort Casino |
